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San Jose Police Department Use of Force Analysis

In an effort to make comprehensive use of force data available to the public and build community trust, the San Jose Police Department contracted with Police Strategies LLC to conduct an extensive analysis of the Department's use of force incidents occurring in 2015-2017 [Download The Report].

Below are three interactive dashboards, which allow you to query the Department's use of force data. By clicking on any of the elements of a dashboard, the remaining charts, graphs, and maps will be changed to match that element. For example, by clicking on the “female” portion of the “Suspect Gender” pie chart, the other charts on that dashboard will change to display the results for female suspects only. Holding down the Ctrl button allows you to select and filter multiple data elements at the same time. To deselect an element, click on the element again or click on the white area just outside the graph or chart. Some boxes have a [±] sign near the bottom of the box; when you click on the [±] sign, additional information is provided to the user.

If you hover the cursor over an element of a dashboard, you will receive additional information regarding that element. In some cases, you will see “% of Total: X% vs. Y%.” The “X%” is the percentage of uses of force for the sample you have selected. The “Y%” is the percentage of all uses of force for the Department. For example, if you select “female” suspects and then hover over the “white” section of “Suspect Race” pie chart, you will see the following: “% of Total: 27% vs. 18%.” This means 27% of female suspects are white compared to 18% of the total number of suspects (male and female).

Use of force incidents are broken down into the following dashboards:

Time and Location of Use of Force Incidents
This dashboard displays the days, times, and locations (by division, district, and beat) of the use of force incidents. Also displayed are the reasons officers contacted suspects (dispatched call for service, on-view, assist of another officer or agency), the original call types of the incidents (violent crime, property crime, etc.), and the types of locations where the use of force incidents occurred (Business, street, residence- inside, etc.).

Types of Force Tactics Used
This dashboard displays the number of officers present during the uses of force, the number of officers using force during use of force incidents, injury rates for both officers and suspects (complaint of pain, scrape, cut, etc.), and the types of force used by officers (physical force, weapon, or both). Physical force used is further divided into the type of physical tactic used by the officer (push, weight, wrestle, etc.). Weapons used by the officer is further divided into the specific type of weapon used (Electronic Control Device (ECD), impact weapon, OC spray, canine, and projectile impact weapon).

Suspect Characteristics and Charges
This dashboard displays the gender, age, race, and location of the suspect’s residence (San Jose, other city, transient). Also displayed is the maximum resistance posed by the suspect to the officer, the charge type (i.e., the crime the suspect was ultimately charged with), the crime level committed by the suspect (infraction, misdemeanor, or felony), whether the suspect fled from officers before or during the incident, and the threat posed by the suspect. Suspect flight is further divided into the manner in which the suspect fled (foot, vehicle, bicycle, other). The suspect threat, where the suspect was the first aggressor, is further divided into the manner in which the suspect threatened the officer (verbally, posture move, attempted assault, assault, less lethal, or deadly weapon).

For additional information, please contact the SJPD Research and Development Unit at 408-277-5200.

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providing excellent service, in a positive and timely manner, and in the full view of the public. Read more about the
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